An essential foundation for the way we work every day are principles of positive behavior instruction. Some of the steps we encourage for all staff and families include:
- Do the Do’s. Tell children exactly what you do want them to do. “Use your quiet voice” instead of “You’re too loud.” “Please keep your feet on the floor” instead of “Get off the table.”
- Offer choices and empower children to take control. “Do you want to tiptoe inside or fly inside.”
- Use healthy touch such as hugs and taps and high fives. Touch promotes interactions that show respect and underlie proper physical and brain development.
- Play! We use play to connect and engage with children. We use play to teach social skills. We even use play to correct our children and reconnect with them after correction. Play—in its sweetest, most tender form—permeates all that we do. We can be silly, have fun, swing and sing!
- Provide boundaries that are simple, necessary and minimal. Remind children of them often—we learn through repetition – and follow through when rules are broken.
- Ask prompting questions to smooth transitions and invite children to share their ideas and opinions. “Hmmm, I wonder where this toy truck goes?” “Does anyone know where this book belongs?”
- Use cues or signals to use during transitions for example a bell or a song.
- Use visual cues to guide children through their day. Visuals give us an additional clue as to what is going to happen next.